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Community Calendar: KindTree Support
Group /Autism Rocks
Family Festival/ Activism: National_Autism_Association_Newsletter
/JOIN THE OREGON NETWORK Greetings: Spring again. Smells nice. Feels warm. We made it. I'm really excited about our upcoming Family Festival. Make hats, paint a funny face, goof around. Emily, David, Nel, Tim and TR and Randy will make beautiful music. See your friends. Laugh. I hope you can come, Sunday the 18th, this weekend.Our Forum is coming up, too. It's fee - free so everyone can come. It's worth way more than we charge. And Bridgeway House is preparing for their major conference with Donna Williams next Tuesday. We are lucky here in Eugene. Back in December a bunch of us gathered
and decided to begin the process of forming an Autism
Society of Oregon, Lane County Chapter. We've received
a revised application from the AS of Oregon. Members of
the Boards of Bridgeway House, the Asperger Advocacy Coalition
and KindTree Productions, Inc. have sent it in and are working
on a chapter structure. This new chapter could help the
local autism community through greater visibility, educational
and support options, and improved coordination of our many
activies. If you have autism in your family, Lane County
is a good place to be. For a list of local autism resources,
go here. 1) Order an Autism Rocks T-shirt. We're in the process
of restocking and all sizes should be available, from kids
medium to adult XXX large, in black, natural, and our new
color - Forest Green!
These are $15 each plus $4.50 shipping (unless you live close
enough to come pick up? 521 7208). And don't forget our beautiful Note Cards!
2) Visit our online store at OregonLive CaféPress. This site features Autism Rocks logo items as well as clothing, bags, hats, baby things, holiday decorations and more printed with autist's art. Check it out today. 3) Sign up for Escrip! PLEASE SIGN UP! THIS IS WORKING!! This program can send a percentage of each purchase you make at a participating merchant to KindTree Productions! Just go to www.escrip.com and enroll. It took me about 5 minutes. Enter our ID # 153141696 or Eugene or search for KindTree. It's pretty simple. Participating merchants include VISA, MasterCard, Big 5 Sports, Carl's Junior, PC Market of Choice, Whole Foods Markets, Wild Oats, Office Max, AAMCO, Edie Bauer, Sharper Image, Payless shoes, and more. What'cha waiting for? 4) Send KindTree a personal donation.
Your contributions are tax deductible and much appreciated.
We need your help. Thanks.
You Can Do It! Our
Donation Page...
Please direct all orders to: KindTree,
2096 1/2 Arthur St, Eugene, OR 97405 - 541 521
7208
KINDTREE CALENDAR: Mondays,
May 10, June 14
St
Mary's Episcopal Church, at Pearl and 13th in Eugene
4:30 - 6PM in the kindergarten classroom downstairs.
Facilitated
by Cheryl Nel Applegate
Call
Mary-Minn at 689
2228
Sunday, April 18th, 6 - 11pm, Cozmic Pizza, $5 each - $15 family KindTree Productions, Inc. “Autism Rocks”
is at it again: another groundbreaking, fun-raiser event
to celebrate the Autism Community. Please join in the
fun. The Autism Rocks Family Festival at Cozmic Pizza,
Sunday, April 18, from 6 - 11 pm (April
is “Autism Awareness Month”) will feature
Kid’s activities (hat making, face painting, games
and Max Lester, DJ extraordinaire!) from 6 - 7:30pm. Then
the music starts on the big stage. Appearing will be children's
music therapy specialist Emily Jensen, singin for all
of us. David Gordon Kaswell will jazz you folks folky
next. Then comes Tim Mueller (that's me) and Nel Applegate
(that's m'bride). I think we'll make you happy. Headlining the evening’s fun, at 9:15, are THE RAVENTONES', a vibrant melange of surf, soul and folk psychedelia, rooted in songwriter TR Kelley's honky-tonk and blues background. You will feel the power. We will have a cash raffle and pizza giveaway, great music, your friends. And people with autism get in free. This is a great line-up of fun and music, all designed to raise money for KindTree Productions, an all volunteer, community based organization. KindTree has been providing services to people with autism in Lane County since 1997, including their one-of-a-kind Summer Autism Retreat and a wonderful Art Program. The admission for this event is a low $5 per person or $15 per family. You get 5 hours of fun for the whole family - plus a chance to win a large pizza from Cozmic Pizza!! Please come out and support the Autism Community. Lane
County has many times the national average population
of people with autism - let’s show them we’re
glad they are here! Sunday, May 16, 2004 Free Supportive Interventions Throughout the Life-Span
1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard Eugene, Oregon 97405 Mission: The purpose of KindTree Autism Forum 2004 is to bring together families, individuals, service providers and caregivers whose lives are impacted by Autism or Asperger's. The forum is intended to provide an opportunity for dialogue and exchange of information, and to provide a platform to discuss prevailing issues, concerns, and possible solutions. Also, when you arrive, we shall ask you to list services you are presently using (for our resource guide, published in KindTree's subsequent newsletter) and concerns you’d like to address at our concluding brainstorming session . Panel Format: brief panelist intro’s, questions, answers, and open discussion. Doors open at 1pm. 1:15-2:15pm: A panel of people with autism speak
to their experiences. 2:30-3:30pm: Supportive interventions for kids
from elementary school through high school. 3:45-4:45pm. Supportive interventions for adults.
5-6pm. Where-to, what-next brainstorming session with flip charts. Facilitated by Nan Gray Lester, co-founder of Asperger Advocacy Coalition Agency display tables available. Refreshments will be provided. Questions? 689-2228 Forum@kindtree.org KindTree Summer Autism Camp/Retreat August 27 - 29, 2004 *Lakeside and Ocean Walks *Non-competitive Games *Family Oriented *Vegetarian Food The retreat is a time for rejuvenation and solidarity. Autists are accepted and enjoyed for themselves, not forced into a procrustean neuro-normal mold. COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Subject: April 13 speaker Bob Cattoche Please plan to join us for the April
meeting of the Asperger Advocacy Coalition
this Tuesday 4/13 from 7 to 8:30pm at Autism
Training and Support,1355 River Road. Our featured
speaker this month is 4J Special Education Administrator
Bob Cattoche. This is your opportunity to
ask questions regarding support and services currently
in place, and in the development stage, for our children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders. If you have any questions
regarding this meeting, or the Asperger Advocacy Coalition
in general, always feel free to call me at 345-3467.
Paul Collins will be at the UoO Bookstore on April 14, 2004 @ 7:00 p.m. .
Tuesday, April 20 Bridgeway House “Autism Conference 2004” featuring Donna Williams, Dr. James Adams, and many others. Join us for an amazing day of fresh perspective on
treating autism. McDonald Theater, 1010 Willamette,
9am - 9pm. $100. Lunch provided. Call Patricia Wigney
541-345-0805. www.bridgewayhouse.org for classes and groups. Autism
Training and Support, Inc. April Workshops 2004
- Friday Series (These workshops are appropriate
for teachers, educational assistants, parents, foster parents,
support staff, case managers, counselors, or anyone who
works with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The last
workshop is for parents only.) Friday,
April 16, 2004 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Friday, May 7, 4 - 7pm, Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard, Eugene Showcasing the work of community artists who experience disabilities. A variety of quality artistic pieces including painting, card and jewelry will be displayed and available for purchase. All proceeds from every sale go directly to the artist. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call Molly Elliott, Hilyard Community Center, 682-5311 The Arc of Oregon Annual State Convention Eugene Hilton May 7th and 8th, 2004 Fast Facts: ¨ Hotel reservations Deadline: April 4, 2004—call today! 800-937-6660 or 541-342-2000. (Be sure to mention The Arc of Oregon Conference to obtain the group rate of $83 per night.) ¨ Early-Bird Registration Deadline: April 16, 2004 ¨ Exhibits will be open throughout the conference (See preliminary schedule below.) ¨ Registration Desk opens on Friday, May 7, 2004 at 12:00 (See preliminary schedule below) ¨ Up to thirty-two break out sessions plus exhibits! ¨ Scholarships for registration will be available for people with developmental disabilities and their families who have not received these funds within the last two years. For more information click here or call Pam at 343-5256. THE CHANGING
FACE OF POVERTY NEWS: DIRECT SUPPORTS CONFERENCE SEEKS PRESENTERS Presenters and exhibitors
are being sought for The Oregon Conference on Direct Supports,
a conference for direct support workers, self-advocates, and
families, sponsored by the Oregon Developmental Disabilities
Coalition in collaboration with the Oregon Rehabilitation
Association. The theme of the conference
is "The Power of One", focusing on how one person
can make a difference in the lives of many. Over 600 participants
interested in the field of developmental disabilities are
making plans to attend. The conference will offer close to
100 concurrent sessions on the following topics: Session and Exhibit
proposals are due on or before MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2004. A Beach Center survey for Self-Advocates about their use of information technology, including computers and cell phones, is on the web at http://survey.ablelinktech.com/QuestNet/bcstart.asp We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are. -the Talmud Activism:
National Autism Association Newsletter The National Autism Association Weekly E-Newsletter. JOIN
THE OREGON NETWORK April 2004 April
Legislative Emergency Board On April 8-9, the Legislative Emergency Board (E-Board) met to, in addition to other budget decisions, take significant actions in the wake of Measure 30’s failure.Elimination of Oregon Health Plan - Standard Population One of the most noteworthy actions taken was the elimination of Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Standard coverage, which will cause 49,000 low-income Oregonians to lose OHP health care coverage on August 1. The number of enrollees on OHP Standard had already decreased by an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 since 2003 when changes such as the addition of co-pays, premium requirements, and elimination of mental health and chemical dependency coverage, were implemented by the Legislature. This latest elimination of OHP Standard coverage will save DHS $41.5 million, but is expected to have a significant impact on county health centers and local hospitals.Restoration of OHP Standard Director of Human Services (DHS) Gary Weeks shared the department’s efforts to restore OHP Standard coverage by tapping "provider tax" revenues. The provider tax was part of the bipartisan revenue package, HB 2152, that was approved by the 2003 Legislature. It was originally intended to generate revenues for medical providers in order to attract federal Medicaid funds. It is the one tax measure from HB 2152 that was not included in Measure 30. Therefore, DHS will focus on securing agreement from the providers - hospitals and managed care organizations - to dedicate revenues to restoring OHP Standard. DHS is also required to obtain a federal waiver in order to change the use of provider taxes. The Governor, DHS and advocates are currently working with Oregon’s federal delegation to secure the federal waiver. DHS Budget Rebalance Elimination of OHP Standard occurred as part of the DHS budget rebalance process that occurs every six months to reflect program cost increases and savings, revenue fluctuations, and caseload changes. Initially, DHS was mandated to reduce its budget by $179 million on May 1 as a result of Measure 30’s failure, through HB 5077. Administrative efficiencies, lower caseloads, medical eligibility changes, and other adjustments created a "savings" for DHS of $117.2 million. Therefore, through its rebalance, and in response to Measure 30’s failure, the E-Board reduced the DHS budget by $53.8 million.Measure 30 DHS Budget Reductions In addition to the elimination of OHP Standard, the following cuts occurred: Elimination of Emergency Assistance for cases that do not involve domestic violence ($3.2 million) Reduction of acute psychiatric care ($0.9 million) Elimination of planned MEDS start-up (retention of General Fund support for HIV and transplant cases only) ($9 million) Cancellation of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility expansion from 185% to 200% of the federal poverty level ($0.8 million)DHS Rebalance Restorations The E-Board approved the following restorations for DHS programs and services: $8 million in the special purpose appropriation fund for state medical assistance programs, including services for seniors and people with disabilities eligibility levels 12 and 13 $1 million in general purpose appropriation funds for Oregon Project Independence $3.8 million in lottery funds to restore the Gambling Addiction Program cut by Measure 30The E-Board directed DHS to report back in June on the status of negotiations to maintain OHP Standard with provider tax revenue. In September, DHS will report on efforts to increase community acute psychiatric care capacity in lieu of opening more wards at the Oregon State Hospital.Community Corrections Restorations Efforts to fully restore Measure 30 budget reductions to the Department of Corrections community corrections grants to counties, totaling $17.8 million, were not fruitful; however, the E-Board did make a partial restoration to counties. A last minute agreement by the Speaker of the House, Senate President, and Governor yielded an $8.9 million appropriation of E-Board funds to fully cover the July and October payments that counties would have received were it not for the disappropriation from failure of Measure 30. The appropriation is twice the amount the Legislative Fiscal Office recommended. The Department of Corrections is expected to return in September to consider requesting remaining E-Board funds to continue community corrections services.State Crime Lab Restorations $3.9 million was allocated from E-Board funds to restore HB 5077 cuts triggered by failure of Measure 30. The appropriation allows for continued operation of the only statewide crime lab system in the state performing services related to controlled substances, toxicology, blood alcohol, trace analysis, arson, clandestine drug lab analysis, DNA, firearms, latent prints, and questioned documents. Local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys rely on the state crime lab in their operationsFor more information on E-Board activities, contact Stephanie Soden at Stephanie.a.soden@co.multnomah.or.us <mailto:Stephanie.a.soden@co.multnomah.or.us> or 503-988-6045. Joint Health and Human Services Committee On April 6, the Joint Health and Human
Services Committee met. In addition to the DHS budget rebalance
proposal slated for the E-Board, the committee heard updates
from the public health, runaway youth, and affordable housing
for people with developmental disabilities work groups.
What is the Americans
with Disabilities Act? What is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973? What is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA)? What is the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Assistance
and Bill of Rights Act? What is the
Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)? What is the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA)? What is the Fair Housing Act (FHA)? What is the
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA)? What is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program? Other Resources
from NCD ADA
Technical Assistance Program Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance Contacting your U.S. Representative Government Benefits (Your Benefits Connection) healthfinder® - your guide to reliable health information
Housing for People with Disabilities MEDLINEplus Health Information Parent Training and Information Centers Social
Security Disability Benefits Information State Protection and Advocacy Agencies State Vocational and Rehabilitation Agencies Su Familia--A Bi-Lingual Helpline (English) Thanks for Listening. April 11, 2004 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological disorder of development. It causes problems with the way a person processes, uses and organizes information. ASD affects a person's abilities in Communication, Social Interaction and Sensory Processing. People with ASD may also have restricted, repetitive behavior, interests, and activities that can affect how they learn. |
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